Carnation plant named ‘Hilbreye’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Carnation plant named ‘Hilbreye’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; large white and purple bi-colored double flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HILBREYE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCarnation plant, botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, growncommercially as a potted and garden plant and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘Hilbreye’.

The new Carnation plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new potted Carnation plants thathave uniform plant habit and numerous unique and attractive flowers.

The new Carnation plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in May, 2008 of Dianthuscaryophyllus ‘Margarita’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,335, asthe female, or seed, parent with Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Odessa EasyPink’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Carnationplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single floweringplant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in July,2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Carnation plant by terminal cuttingspropagated in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, TheNetherlands since 2009 has shown that the unique features of this newCarnation plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Carnation have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Hilbreye’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Hilbreye’ as a new and distinct Carnationplant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded        plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large white and purple bi-colored double flowers that are        positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong        peduncles.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Carnation differ from plants of the female parent,‘Margarita’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Margarita’.    -   2. Plants of the new Carnation have larger flowers with more        petals per flower than plants of ‘Margarita’.    -   3. Plants of the new Carnation have longer branches than plants        of ‘Margarita’.    -   4. Plants of the new Carnation and ‘Margarita’ differ in flower        coloration.

Plants of the new Carnation differ from plants of the male parent,‘Odessa Easy Pink’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation and ‘Odessa Easy Pink’ differ in        leaf color.    -   2. Plants of the new Carnation have larger flowers than plants        of ‘Odessa Easy Pink’.    -   3. Plants of the new Carnation and ‘Odessa Easy Pink’ differ in        flower color.

Plants of the new Carnation can be compared to plants of Dianthuscaryophyllus ‘Koes’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,370. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Carnation differed from plants of ‘Koes’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation had larger flowers than plants of        ‘Koes’.    -   2. Plants of the new Carnation had longer branches than plants        of ‘Koes’.    -   3. Plants of the new Carnation and ‘Koes’ differed in flower        color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Carnation plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Carnation plant. The photograph comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Hilbreye’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and following observationsand measurements describe plants grown during the late winter and earlyspring in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel,The Netherlands and under cultural practices which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial potted Carnation production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 12° C. andlight levels averaged 7,000 lux. Plants were pinched one time five weeksafter planting. Plants used for the description were 17 weeks old andplants used for the photograph were 25 weeks old. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Hilbreye’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Margarita’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,335.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Odessa Easy            Pink’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at 20° C. to            25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type and form.—Herbaceous perennial; upright, somewhat            outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; broad            inverted triangle.        -   Branching habit.—Freely-branching growth habit; when            pinched, about seven basal branches develop; dense and bushy            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 16.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 22.3 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 9.8 cm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 8.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 7 mm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate, decurrent.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            143A; towards the base, close to 144D. Fully expanded            leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C to N137D; venation,            close to N137C to N137D. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to N137C; venation, close to 143A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Rotate double flowers usually            arranged in terminal sprays; freely flowering habit with            typically about 60 flowers developing per plant; flowers            positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; flowers face mostly upright.        -   Fragrance.—Flowers moderately fragrant; sweet, clove-like.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering is continuous through            the summer and late summer in The Netherlands; plants begin            flowering about 13 weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Spray height.—About 8.3 cm.        -   Spray diameter.—About 9.7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.7 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 4.1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 137B.        -   Petals and petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: About ten            petals per flower arranged in the outer whorls and about ten            petaloids (transformed stamens) per flower in the inner            whorls. Length, petals: About 4.9 cm. Width, petals: About            2.9 cm. Length, petaloids: About 3.9 cm. Width, petaloids:            About 1.5 cm. Shape, petals: Spatulate. Shape, petaloids:            Irregularly narrow spatulate. Apex, petals and petaloids:            Praemorse. Base, petals and petaloids: Acute. Margin, petals            and petaloids: Entire. Texture, petals and petaloids, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color, petals            and petaloids: When opening, upper surface: Towards the            margin, close to 69D; central radial band, close to 187A;            distal edge of band, close to N57B; proximal edge of band,            close to N57D; towards the base, close to 144C. When            opening, lower surface: Towards the margin, close to 69B to            69D; central radial band, close to 70B; distal and proximal            edges of band, close to 70D; towards the base, close to            144C. Fully opened, upper surface: Towards the margin, close            to NN155D; central radial band, close to 187B; distal edge            of band, close to N57B; proximal edge of band, close to 63C;            towards the base, close to 144C; color does not change with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Towards the            margin, close to NN155D; central radial band, close to 70B;            distal and proximal edges of band, close to 73D; towards the            base, close to 144C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl;            proximal 75% of the sepals are fused. Length: About 2.3 cm.            Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Broadly acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 146C to 146D; margins, close to 144C. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 137B;            margins, close to 144C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 35° from vertical.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed, all transformed            into petaloids. Pistils: Quantity: About two per flower.            Pistil length: About 3 cm. Stigma shape: Pointed; strongly            curved. Stigma color: Close to N155B. Style length: About            2.6 cm. Style color: Close to NN155B. Ovary color: Close to            N144A; towards the base, close to 150D.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Carnation.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Carnation have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Carnation    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Carnation have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to 35° C. and to be hardy to    USDA Hardiness Zone 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Carnation plant named ‘Hilbreye’ asillustrated and described.